His Devious Rule

Bailing out early from the party, Anya and Alvin routed towards the Matthews mansion. On the way, Anya learned about Alvin\'s plan against Casper and Liam\'s plan.

Alvin got out of the car in extreme disinterest. Frankly, he wouldn\'t have worried about appearing at the Matthews mansion so soon. But his wife was rather soft-hearted when anything includes women or babies.

He turned to Anya when she started humming pretending to be thinking. He was aware Anya would choose Liam\'s plan so he pulled her ear and heard her faint whine in protest.

Anya promptly revealed her thoughts, "I would love to see a foreigner invading Casper Matthews\'s hard work." That would destroy Casper\'s ego and Casper wouldn\'t be able to accept it. But it would be unfair for Liam who gave up his wishes to follow his father.

"Heh!?" Alvin wouldn\'t mind switching back to his original plan if Anya says so. Cornering her against the car, he voiced his fresh plan, moving close to her lips, "Then I could bring Brother Liam to Skylark." Then he could follow her the whole day and give a hand in her mission. The plan was too enticing.

Anya struggled to fight the temptation of his warm breath and narrowed her eyes into his. Her fingers grabbed his trench coat collar and tugged him closer. Her voice was low with a hint of disapproval, "President Matthews, don\'t even think of joining university."

Alvin was too stunned to enjoy her lingering kiss on his lips. He had indeed planned to join the university. Half a day at Skylark and some hours at the university would have become his routine. How did she get to know?

​ "Your admission won\'t be accepted." Anya winked, thrilled she learned his plan.

She was going towards the mansion but a small tug brought her back in front of Alvin, "My dummy wife…" His deep voice was soothing yet increased her heartbeats.

He brushed her hair, watching her indulgently. He couldn\'t believe she found him so simple. He burst her bubble of victory against him, "That was just to spend time with you."

This time Anya was frozen when he tenderly caught her lips and gave her a longing kiss. Anya silently cried to herself while following Alvin. She would love to spend time with him but, "Alvin, please let me handle my mission." She didn\'t want him to catch the eyes of the criminals or their plans to collide. That would be deadlier.

Both suddenly came to a halt when a guard stood in their way. "Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, you aren\'t invited to the mansion. Leave from here." His gruff tone was much more polite than what Casper had instructed him to do.

Anya\'s eyes went to the security camera. She wasn\'t in the mood to hack into their security network and there were chances Casper wanted them to do something crazy. So she behaved.

She slowly breathed out. "Your chairman is out of his mind." Anya flatly said behaving like the spoiled wife that she was. If they weren\'t allowed, why did the security at the gates not stop them?

Alvin had learned how his every small action could affect Anya and her career. So he held back from punching the man in his face. He looked at Anya\'s dress and shook his head, "You can\'t climb the walls." He mused.

Guard: "…"

Anya narrowed her eyes at her husband who was underestimating her. She has chased after and fought criminals on her heels. Climbing a stupid building in a dress was much easier.

She didn\'t get provoked. She fished her mobile from her overcoat, "I will just call the police." She dialed Rob watching the guard\'s eyes widen. "Deputy Chief Warner, Anya Owen here. I would like to lodge a complaint…"

Rob: "…"

"Wait…" The guard stopped her. It was common sense that things would again blow up if Casper\'s action leaked to the media, "I will ask Chairman Matthews."

Anya ended the call and entered the mansion with Alvin ignoring the guard. Before the guard could get to say anything to Casper, Alvin took her upstairs under a glowering stare of Casper.

Casper could only grit his teeth and glare at the two. Could he use physical force against the two?

No. He wasn\'t stupid enough to use the same method on Anya and Alvin. They weren\'t Liam and Lilian.

Could he stop Anya and Alvin from reaching Liam and his wife or taking them away?

No.

Those two weren\'t underaged children. He had no right to stop them. It would have probably worked if he had any leverage against Alvin or Anya but hard luck. Casper strode off to his study room.

…

Anya unlocked the door to see Liam and Lilian playing with their daughter without a hint of worry.

Lilian stood up instinctively looking at the two for the first time. She knew both were younger than her but Anya looked like she was twenty with her short hair. And Alvin did look gorgeous than in pictures but colder and unapproachable too.

Liam frowned. He doesn\'t remember Alvin\'s contact number but knows the Oasis mansion telephone number as he used to call very often to know about Alvin\'s arrival.

He hadn\'t reached out to be rescued. He told them Casper\'s plan and added that he wouldn\'t be able to return. "How did you guys know we were locked?" He broke the silence, "Why are you here? Shouldn\'t you be handling the problem?" Alvin\'s situation was important compared to stripping Casper from his powers.

Anya looked at Alvin who didn\'t seem to be interested to respond. She looked at the couple and her eyes settled on the baby girl who was blinking her beautiful eyes.

Anya responded to the questioning and worried gazes, "I guess, it wasn\'t hard to deduce when psychotic crackheads are around."

Lilian giggled before she held back. Her face turned red holding back her laughter. She didn\'t expect Anya to be funny.

Anya waved her hand at the baby as she continued, "And we were worried about the little princess." She was worried whether Casper would give them dinner and the baby might starve. "May I?"

"Please…" Lilian invited her inside the room while Liam tried to talk to Alvin. "Alvin, what is happening? Have you taken care of it?" In worry, Liam was impatient to find a solution to his problem.

Initially, Alvin was using the shares as a distraction for Casper. While Casper negotiates with all the shareholders, Alvin plans to find foreign investors.

Now that plan was changed, he lazily responded watching his wife being cute with a baby. "I have it under control."

Liam breathed in relief. Lilian dropped her worry and watched Anya coax the baby and carry her. It took her a moment to recall Anya was a mother of five years old and she knew to take care of a baby.

Anya didn\'t have much time. So she probed the couple, "Why don\'t you guys pack the necessity and stay with us for some days?"

By the end of her words, she passed the baby to Alvin who stiffened like a rock. He watched her tiny fingers holding Anya\'s pinkie, her eyes sparkling looking at everything in amusement, her loveable smile, and pleasant giggles.

It was frightening to take care of a tiny creature, at the same time, he was tempted to hold his own baby girl.

Anya drove the car while Alvin carefully carried the sleeping baby without daring to move recklessly. Liam and Lilian watched inexperienced, clueless Alvin repeatedly looking at Anya, silently asking her to do something with the baby. Yet, Anya pretended to be focused on driving while hiding her smile.

With a delicate baby in his arms, Anya was sure Alvin\'s mind would be filled with the baby instead of his exhausting sly plans. A bit of rest wasn\'t harmful to anyone.

….

In the study room of the Matthews mansion,

Harrison watched Casper who was utterly mute from the moment Alvin and Anya appeared. With the dark circles, he just wanted to go home and sleep.

If Anya and Alvin had time to party on Christmas Eve and get Liam and his wife, Alvin was many steps ahead of them without any emergency at his end.

Casper\'s mobile rang after a few minutes. He answered the call and heard the other side. [Chairman Matthews, Skylark hasn\'t bought 20% of Matthews shares. It isn\'t clear how Alvin Matthews has control over such large shares. The probability of his private investment couldn\'t be ignored.]

The lines on Casper\'s forehead slowly cleared and his jaws clenched. He ended the call and breathed out slowly. He discerned Alvin was masking them. But why?

Casper\'s brows creased when the thought of Alvin planning something crossed his mind. \'Liam… Alvin… Liam…\' His eyes glinted sharply.

Were his sons planning to outcast him from his company?

Casper sniggered. Liam has to pay for his actions. He solemnly commanded Harrison, "Spread the news to shareholders that I will appoint any of their sons as CEO." The shareholders would be eager to get more power. Thus they would support him unconditionally. "Get me the details." He will change the CEO.

Harrison: "…"